diff --git a/roles/docker-discourse/tasks/main.yml b/roles/docker-discourse/tasks/main.yml
index 82c8ce03..e117be17 100644
--- a/roles/docker-discourse/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/roles/docker-discourse/tasks/main.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@
     state: directory
     mode: 0755
 
+- name: "Ensure {{docker_compose_project_name}}_default network exists"
+  community.docker.docker_network:
+    name: "{{docker_compose_project_name}}_default"
+    state: present
+
 - name: add docker-compose.yml
   template: src=docker-compose.yml.j2 dest={{docker_compose_instance_directory}}docker-compose.yml
   notify: docker compose project setup
@@ -47,12 +52,6 @@
     dest: "{{discourse_repository_directory}}containers/app.yml"
   notify: recreate discourse
 
-- name: "Ensure {{docker_compose_project_name}}_default network exists"
-  community.docker.docker_network:
-    name: "{{docker_compose_project_name}}_default"
-    state: present
-  when: enable_central_database | bool
-
 - name: "add central database temporary to {{docker_compose_project_name}}_default"
   command:
     cmd: "docker network connect discourse_default central-{{ database_type }}"
diff --git a/roles/docker-discourse/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2 b/roles/docker-discourse/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2
index bcf0cf3f..45a899eb 100644
--- a/roles/docker-discourse/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2
+++ b/roles/docker-discourse/templates/docker-compose.yml.j2
@@ -9,4 +9,5 @@ services:
 {% include 'templates/docker-compose-volumes.yml.j2' %}
   redis:
 
-{% include 'templates/docker-compose-networks.yml.j2' %}
\ No newline at end of file
+{% include 'templates/docker-compose-networks.yml.j2' %}
+    external: true
\ No newline at end of file